Apple, Google and Other Mobile Giants Commit to App Privacy Standards

The California Department of Justice issued a press release Wednesday detailing an agreement among leaders in the mobile space to strengthen user-privacy and transparency policies for mobile apps.

The agreement — signed by Apple, Google, HP, Amazon, Microsoft and RIM — commits the companies and their app developers to following “privacy principles designed to bring the industry in line with a California law requiring mobile apps that collect personal information to have a privacy policy.” Developers that don’t follow the rules could be prosecuted under California’s Unfair Competition Law or False Advertising Law, or both.

Under the agreement, users will get the opportunity to review an app’s privacy policy before downloading an app, rather than after. This privacy notice would be located in a consistent position on the download prompt screen, so users know exactly where to look for this information. Mobile platforms would also be required to inform developers about their privacy responsibilities to consumers, and how they should release information on what data they collect, who they share it with, and how it’s obtained.

In six months, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris will assess each platform’s performance in complying with the agreement.

The announcement comes after a string of privacy and security snafus on multiple platforms. Most recently, the iOS version of the app Path came under fire for uploading and storing users’ address-book information without their consent. The Android platform has also been under fire for privacy and malware breaches, and Amazon’s App Store has been under scrutiny for security concerns as well.

Legislators have been pushing for greater app security for users, as well as transparency on platform policies. After the Path imbroglio, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and Commerce Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee Chair G.K. Butterfield wrote Apple CEO Tim Cook to express their concern. Last year, Senator Al Franken reached out to Apple and Google’s CEOs over these sorts of issues.

For the full text of the press release, visit the California Department of Justice website here.